These are the world's happiest countries, according to a new survey

The 2017 World Happiness Report was just released. Where to the happiest folks on earth live? Norway.

Prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an international panel of social scientists convened by the United Nations, the report is based on a question posed to people around the world between 2014 and 2016 by Gallup. Developed by social scientists decades ago, the query is as follows: Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?

Ranking fourth for the past two years, Norway climbed to the top spot and knocked former title holder Denmark down to number two. Dropping one place from last year, the United States came in 14th place while the Central African Republic ranked last, at spot 155.

Find the top 20 list below and feel free to read through the entire study right here.

Anna is the National Digital Content Editor at Time Out North America. She still sometimes thinks to be one of Peter Pan's Lost Boys and will never understand the appeal of cats as pets. Follow her on Twitter at @AnnaBenYehuda.